Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-16
THE TARIFF.
Rev. N. L. Atwood Wants Further Enlight-
eminent on the Subject.
To he Editor Of ne ReqiSer.


Rev. N. L. Atwood Wants Further Enlight-
eminent on the Subject.
To The Editor Of he Register.
l am sorry to say, my question the
other day was misunderstood. l neither
advocate nor approve any theory of any
party on the tariff question. 1 am in no
sense a politieion. am only taxpayer.
So little attention do l give to political
affairs, that l have no understanding Of
the great principles upon which the two
great parties are divided So wholly am l
in the dark concerning them, that for
many years have not voted with either,
for fear of voting with the wrong one. No
man in the nation pays his portion of the
necessary taxes TO support the Govern
ment with more willingness than / do. /
am more than willing to have them
doubled, in the form of tariff or any
other mode, when by so doing / help to
''protect our home industries and stimu-
late American development In this
there seems 10 be a general agreement. l
think every American is in favor Of pro-
tecting home industry. | read the plat
forms of both the great parties some years
ago, and to me il seemed that there
was a perfectly political agree
ment between them upon this
question. If l understand them rightly,
the Democrats were in favor Of tariff for
revenue with incidental protection to
American industry The Republicans, on
the other hand, were in favor of tariff for
the protection of American industry with
incidental revenue. So far as this ques-
ton is concerned, see everything to ap-
prove of in both, and nothing to object TO
in either, and l therefore took no sides In
the contest. Both parties admit, be-
lieve, that taxing the commodities that we
buy from foreigners protects home indus
tries aud stimulates American develop
ment." | admit it also. 1t would be pre-
sumptuous in one who is no politician at
all to call in question proposition con-
corning which all politicians in both par
ties are agreed. The fact that the present
tariff was laid in time of war, does not ap-
pear to me to affect the question of revenue
and protection in any way. The amount
of revenue and the amount OF protection
may be the same under the same tariff
whether il is laid in time of war or peace.
There may be a necessity for raising the
same amount in time Of peace that there is
in time of war.
Recollect, / do not deny that lay
ing ffty-three and half (53!) cents tax on
fcrty-six and half (463) cents worth of
sugar protects our home industries and
stimulates American development. l
only ask how it protects? admit the fact
of protection, but do not understand the
how. fit increased our home production
and diminished importation, | would think
l understood it; but when it diminishes
our home production and increases impor-
tation, it completely bewilders me, and |
ask for light. l have spent the largest
part of somewhat lengthened.life in hard
physical labor, for which l am now I'M
fitted, by some of the intirmities attendant
upon old age. But like the Master, / am
endeavoring to serve, all my sympathies are
with those who labor and are heavily
laden" l am anxious to do anything in
my power that will protect the home in
d1stry" of the laborer. But want to I'M
derstand how the thing propose to do is
going to protect him, before / commence
the work. Yours truly,
n. l.. ATWOOD.